Post navigation

This year I decided to put more effort in my part of the garden and sowed a few different easy to grow plants in a mini greenhouse in early March. One of the plants that survived is the chamomile. I am pleased that I was able to harvest these beautiful and fragrant small flowers. I pick the flowers before the full heat of the noon sun. Since I only have one pot, I harvested several times allowing more blooms to grow. I used a 2-step drying process since I don’t have much room, a small harvest and pick the flowers at different times.

One does not need to wait for the new year to simplify and streamline things in your home. Here’s a simple list to startdecluttering your home and your digital information.

Digital de-cluttering

Update your email subscriptions. Review your subscriptions once a year and unsubscribe to the ones that no longer serve its purpose.

Review and update your digital address/phone book – on your phone and computer.

De-clutter your bookmarks or favourites from your browser(s).

Donate or recycle older electronic devices such as smart phones, printers, scanners, monitors you no longer use. I drop-off unwanted electronics at a depot like Return-it,. they also take recyclable beverage containers and paint containers.

If you have time post on craigslist, kijiji, freecycle or other similar websites.

Files and Paperwork

Donate things that you no longer use or have not used in a while that don’t have real sentimental value.

art and craft supplies

unused stationery – donate to a daycare or school

board games and toys

Review bank and investment statements that can be shredded. Consider receiving your statements and bills digitally.

Give away, donate, exchange barter books you won’t use a a reference for future or have no plans to read

Recipe clippings, business cards and receipts – scan or discard

Bathroom

Review and discard old cosmetics and brushes

Tip: the cosmetics such as lipstick, eyeshadows, lip liner, or eye liners may also be used as art medium. You might be surprised at how much pigmentation you can get using cosmetics on paper or canvas (or whatever substrate you have-time to experiment!)

Remember you don’t have to do it all at once. Decide on which are you are going to target and do it in one weekend, several weeknights or once a week. The important thing is to just do it. Good luck and keep doing.

Start off with a square paper. The size depends on how big you want your star to be. If you choose a heavier stock, it will be more difficult to fold and crease the paper. The result will also be bulky. The paper I used in these samples are origami paper, regular printer paper (20 lb. stock) and a stationery paper (a little heavier than 20 lb. stock).

Step by Step

Step 1 : Start with a square paper; Step 2: Make two creases by folding the paper horizontally and vertically

Step 3: Fold each corner into the centre – it will form a smaller square

Step 4: Fold one of the sides into the centre making a triangle – Make sure the
tip is well creased. This will be the point of the star and will be visible. Do the same on the other side.

Step 5: Turn over the paper Make a crease that aligns where the folded part.

Step 6: Fold the middle of the paper

Repeat with the other

Assembly

Step 1: Line up two modules and inner the point of the module into the “pocket” of another module

Step 2: Repeat until you can close to make a circle.

Here are samples of different size star

Here’s how I used the smallest star. I made cubes of graduated size using a discarded file folder. Here’s the link to the cube template.